TW416237B - Interactive television program guide with on-demand data supplementation - Google Patents

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided in which data that must be available quickly to the user is stored locally in a receiver whereas data that is not readily needed but available on-demand is stored remotely where mass storage is available. Locally-stored data may include frequently-requested information that the user needs quick access to. Supplemental information stored remotely may include information for which a slight delay following a request for a particular item of information by the user is acceptable. The program guide may display locally-stored information either continuously as the user is browsing the guide or as soon as the user requests it. The program guide may request supplemental information that is stored remotely when the user requests it or as soon as it is clear the user may want to view it. Accordingly, the program guide may anticipate which information the user will need and may store it locally in advance of the user actually requesting it, thereby reducing any delays in viewing the information.

Description

416237 丨 V. Description of the Invention (1)! Background of the Invention The present invention relates to an interactive television program guide, and is more specific to an interactive television program guide with an on-demand data supplement. Cable, satellite and broadcast television systems provide viewers with a very large number of I TV channels. Viewers traditionally consult the schedule of printed television programs to determine when this section is played at a particular time. More recently, an interactive TV Lange guide has been developed to make television Lange information not visible on viewers' televisions. Interactive TV shows are usually implemented in on-board boxes. Such a program means!; South allows users to watch a list of TV programs in different display formats. For example, the user can order the program guide to display a list of data in a grid or table, organized into a channel or time sequence listing. Users can also search and sort the program list by type (such as movie, sports program, etc.) or title (that is, alphabetical order). Users can get extra funding for the show

I | News by placing the highlighted area on the desired program list and pressing the "Information | News" button. Users can purchase paid programs from the program guide by placing the highlighted area on a program list and pressing the "OK" button. Some systems allow the user to select the program to be recorded by placing the highlighted area on a program list and pressing the "Record" button. For example, a list of debit items, purchase information for each paid program, promotional information, etc.! The program materials are provided to the user's in-flight box using the material distribution system. Program guide information is usually stored in a central program guide database. From the center

The program guide data of the I | database is transmitted to the headend facilities of the different cable systems. Each headend distributes this program guide material to an on-board box in its system.

416237 V. Description of the invention (2) In the current system, the program guide data is stored in the local memory in the box on the aircraft, or it can be continuously obtained in the data stream. Access to a particular channel. However, local storage of program guides requires considerable memory in the onboard box, which can be very expensive. Searching for the desired information from a continuous stream of data will introduce considerable delay between the viewer requesting the information and its display. Because a large number of video channels and several weeks of information can be continuously obtained in this data stream * users may need to wait until the desired program information is available when the data stream is available. Another program guide system that has been used is one in which the guide can request specific information, but requires memory to store all the required information. The user's actions are used to determine which data item is requested first, but all data items are required and saved in the end. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an interactive television program guide system, in which the data obtained by the user must be quickly stored locally, and less urgent data can be stored meta-terminally and a request can be made according to the needs of the user. = Summary of the invention This and other objects of the present invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing a system in which program guides that are needed shortly are stored locally (that is, in local memory) instead of The supplementary information that is needed immediately but is available on demand is remote storage (that is, in remote memory). Program guide information is usually available from a source at a major facility.

416237 V. Description of the invention (3) This main facility provides information from a source to multiple TV distribution facilities via a communication link. The material transmitted from the main facility to the TV distribution facility usually includes at least a list of TV programs, such as the time, channel, title, rating, category, and description of the program. Each program distribution facility distributes television program listing data to multiple users via communication links. Each user has a user television device to display this TV show list information. This communication link preferably has sufficient bandwidth to allow the TV distribution facility to distribute TV programs from multiple channels to consumer TV equipment. Users who receive and process program listing data from television distribution facilities Television equipment may include an on-board box. If desired, this set-top box can process the TV show list to generate an interactive TV show guide grid on the user's display screen. The user can interact with the TV program guide by entering commands through the user input interface. An illustrative user input interface is an infrared remote control with a joystick key, a "Guide" button, and a "Gongxun" button. The information provided by the television distribution facility to the program guide can be stored locally in the receiver or remotely with a large amount of storage. Locally stored data can contain information that users need to access quickly, such as program titles, ratings, short descriptions, time and channel for each play, program categories, and other frequently requested information. The supplementary information stored remotely may include, for example, detailed descriptions of the program, biographies, video clips, graphics of the dot matrix, advertisements, trivial matters, the Internet address of the World Wide Web, timely information (such as the score of the exercise) , Interactive applications, application extensions

Page 8 416237 V. Description of the invention (4) | Charge and other information, the slight delay after the user requests a specific information item is acceptable. I This program guide can continuously display the local while the user is browsing this guide. I Stored information or when the user requests it. The program guide can be stored remotely when requested by user I or once it is obvious that the user may want to watch. For example, the supplementary information can be requested by the program guide. When the user tunes to a channel showing a specific program, When the user proposes to store information about a particular program locally, or when any program row contains a specific program: a table screen or a grid display. Therefore, this program guide anticipates what information the user will need and can store it locally before the user actually asks. For example, if a user browses through the program guide and wants to watch

I Play schedule information. Users can browse the program guide until the program list of the desired program is displayed on the appropriate program guide display screen. This show list can contain information such as show titles, ratings, actors, and short descriptions. This information is usually stored locally * and can be quickly retrieved and provided to the user for immediate feedback. The combination of user requirements to watch a specific program list with little or no latency, which allows users to have a free and at-a-glance view of different program guide display screens containing such a list of programs without any delay Or break. If the user wants to see additional information about a specific program, the user can use the remote control to locate the highlighted area on the program's program list! And press the "Information" button on the remote control. Once the user makes such a selection, another screen can be displayed through the program guide, which contains further information about the program. This information may also be stored locally.

Page 9 416237 I ^ ™ ^ ^ V. Description of the invention ¢ 5) Such information may include the time and frequency of each broadcast of this program during the week, and channels, and other similar program categories. I However, if the user wishes to view further information about this program, the user may choose to view a further information screen, which provides additional details and descriptive information related to this i | program, such as detailed descriptions, biographies, videos ; News and / or audio clips, etc. This information is available on demand, and is usually stored remotely (for example, on a television distribution facility or network node) where it is stored in large quantities. ! Remote storage can be slower, less expensive memory based and accompanied by user transfer delays. Users can therefore experience a slight delay in viewing remotely stored information. However, latency can be reduced by anticipating when users will request specific supplementary information. For example, as long as the user tunes to a program on a particular channel, place the highlighted area on a program guide display screen I, a desired program list, request additional information for a section, or another table I indicates interest in a section , Channel type of the program, etc., this program guide can

I request this supplemental information in anticipation that the user wants to access this data. The length of any delay associated with accessing this supplementary information may depend on whether the user requested such information before the program guide had a chance to anticipate that the user wanted to access this information and requested that the supplementary information be transferred to local memory. For example, if a request is made when information stored locally is displayed, this delay may be slightly longer than when the user has browsed the information stored locally before making a request. In addition to the detailed information about the currently selected program, the supplementary information may also include a program or program list that contains information about other programs in the same time frame. Information, other shows in the same genre, or a specific show or program listing with the same actor, etc. = If the supplementary information contains the Internet address of the World Wide Web, it can be added as a link to a program guide information screen. This provides a direct link to an embedded web browser. If the user chooses this link, the browser will launch and the desired web page will be retrieved and displayed on the user's TV device. If the supplementary data includes an interactive application or application extension, the appropriate option to call an interactive application or application extension is added to this information screen. In addition, interactive applications or application extensions can be launched automatically (for example, via a program guide). This application can be related to the current show or a list of selected shows and can, for example, include shopping, contests, polls, games, supplementary information (such as sports scores or stock information) and so on. If the supplementary information contains real-time information, that information can be added to this information screen or it can be overlaid on the video signal of the TV program once the user's TV equipment is tuned to the program. Further features, essentials and different advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic block diagram of an illustrative system according to the present invention. _ Figure 2 is a diagrammatic block diagram of an illustrative user equipment according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a generalized schematic block diagram of a part of the user television device of FIG. 2. 4 and 5 are illustrative program guide display screens according to the present invention. Figure 6 is a diagrammatic block diagram of an illustrative user television device according to the present invention

0: \ 58'08635.PTD Page 11 416237 V. Description of Invention (7) The figure shows the details of the data supplement circuit. FIG. 7 is an illustrative program information display screen according to the present invention. 8 and 9 are illustrative detailed information display screens according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in using the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 11 is an illustrative program information display screen according to the present invention. 12 and 13 are illustrative detailed information display screens according to the present invention. Fig. 14 is an illustrative program information display screen according to the present invention = detailed description of a preferred embodiment. Fig. 1 shows an illustrative system 10 according to the present invention. Major facilities 1 2 Provide information from sources 1 4 to television distribution facilities 1 6 via communication links 1 8. The communication link 18 may be a satellite link, a television network link, a cable or optical fiber link, a microwave link, a combination of these links, or any other suitable communication path. If you want to transmit video signals other than data signals on the communication link 18, a relatively high-bandwidth link, such as a satellite link, may be better than a relatively low-bandwidth link, such as a telephone line. The television distribution facility 16 may be, for example, a cable system headend, a broadcast distribution facility, or a satellite television distribution facility. The materials distributed from the main facility 12 to the TV distribution facility 16 include TV program listing information (eg, program time, channels, subprogramme types, titles, and descriptions). The TV program list data received by the main facility 12 may be stored locally (ie, in local memory 21) soon, or more detailed supplementary data may be stored remotely (ie, in remote locations). End memory 17). The remote memory 17 may be any suitable memory device,

Page 12 416237 V. Description of the invention (8) It can be located at, for example, a television distribution facility 16 (as shown in FIG. 1), a network node (for example, a servo system at the television distribution facility 16) or Suitable location for any other user's TV equipment 2 2 far end. The television distribution facility 16 distributes this television program list material to a plurality of users via the communication path 20. Each user has a user television device 22 to display television program listing information and an interactive television program guide implemented on the messenger television device 22. The communication path 20 preferably has sufficient bandwidth for the television distribution facility 16 to distribute television programs to user television equipment. If desired, TV shows can be provided on a separate communication path (not shown). An illustrative configuration of a user television device 22 is shown in FIG. 2. The user television device 24 of FIG. 2 receives and transmits video and data from a television distribution facility 16 via a remote memory source 17 on the input / output 26. During normal television viewing, the user tunes the onboard box 28 to the desired television channel. The signal of this television channel is then provided on video output 30, such as a radio frequency (RF) signal on a predetermined channel (e.g. channel 3 or 4), a demodulated video signal or a digital signal. The video signal on output 30 can be received by video recorder 32 (or another suitable recording device) so that the user can record the program. The recording of the program and its features can be controlled by the onboard box 28 using the control path 34. A typical control path 34 includes an infrared transmitter using an infrared receiver connected to the video recorder 32, which generally accepts remote control commands from the remote control 40. The remote control 40 can be used to control the on-box 28, the video recorder 32, and the television 36. Bao Shi 36 receives the appropriate video signal from the video recorder 3 2 via the communication channel 3 8. The video signal on Xiaoxun path 38 can be a pre-recorded

416237 V. Description of the invention (9) Video can be generated or transmitted from the on-board box 28 through the video recorder 32. During a normal television viewing period, the video signal provided to the television 36 corresponds to the desired channel that the user tuned to with the onboard box 28. When the user wants to watch the interactive TV program guide information, the user can press the "Guide" button on the remote control 40. When the onboard box 28 receives a command from the remote control 40, it informs the onboard box 28 that the guide button has been pressed, the interactive TV program guide is called and the processing circuit in the onboard box 28 is displayed on the TV 36 Different program guide displays. A more generalized concrete example of the user television device 24 of 圊 2 is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in Figure 3. The video and data signals from the television distribution facility 16 (Figure 丨) are received by the control circuit 42 of the user's television equipment 44. Video signals are usually provided on multiple TV channels. The data is provided by, for example, on the channels next to the TV channel in the form of vertical shadowing intervals of the TV channel, digital distribution of the tape, or other suitable data transmission technology. 2 The user uses the user input interface 46 to control the user's television device. The second: The user input interface 46 can be a pointing device, a wireless remote control, a .i, a touch pad, a voice recognition system, or any other suitable two device: To watch TV, the user commands the control circuit 42 to use the device = the second frequency. To watch the program # 南 信息, the user commands the 7 control W circuit 42 to display a program guide display on the monitor 48. The address control circuit The functions of 42 can be improved by using the on-box configuration of Figure 2! On the second generation, these functions can be integrated into the presentation of TV, VCR or computer. If you want, you can also use this combination of hardware configuration .

Page 14 416237 V. Description of the invention (ίο) When a user indicates that he wants to watch TV program guide information (for example, by using the user input interface 46 to input a command), the program guide guides control; circuit 4 2 generates The program guide displays a video image of the screen. Program guide display The information on the screen can be included in the program guide information provided from sources 1 2 (Figure 1) in the main facility 12 (Figure 1). This material usually contains program information for several days of this program guide. An illustrative I program list box 50 is shown in FIG. 4, which can be displayed by the program guide. Program list box 50 has program list columns 5 2 '5 4, 5 6 and 5 8. The program list column 5 2 contains programs 1 and 2 on channel 2 (KJRH) during time slots 6: 30 PM, 7:00 PM, and 7: 30 PM. The program list column 54 contains a program list of programs 1 and 2 on channel 3 (HBO) and the like. Program list box 50 (similar to other program guide screens displayed by the program guide) may have a high-luminance area 66. The high-brightness area 66 can be used to make the current checkered cells sufficient. The movement range of this south bone region 66 is usually limited by the block 68 on the left, the time cell 70 on the upper program list, the screen boundary 72 on the right, and the lower screen boundary 74 on the bottom. The time cell 76 can be used to display the current time and the date cell 77 can be used to display the current date. The user can locate the high-brightness area 6 6 by inputting appropriate commands through the user input interface 46. For example, if the user input interface 46 is a remote control such as the remote control 40 in FIG. 2, the user can use Cursors to locate high-brightness areas 6 6. As shown in Fig. 5, if the user repeatedly moves the highlight area 66-up to the lower screen border 74, further attempts to move down cause the program list to scroll vertically. Illustrative example in Figure 5

Page 15 416237 I five 'invention description (11) I t, the program list columns 54, 56 and 58 have been moved up one position in the grid. A new program list column 55 is displayed at the bottom of box 50. The vertical movement of the high-brightness area 66 in the upward direction can be used to scroll the program list in the opposite direction. Similarly, when the high-brightness area 66 is rotated in the horizontal direction (that is, moved right or left), this list Move accordingly (that is, left or right respectively). The program list box 50 is just an illustrative program guide screen that can be displayed by the program guide on the user's television device 22. Other program guide screens available in this program guide include menu screens, lists or tables of program listings, product advertising screens, and current TV channels are screens that include program listings to browse or flip over the kanban. Any of these program screens and any appropriate program guide features may be provided by the program guide. In a program guide display such as program list box 50, each program cell may contain a limited amount of descriptive information about a program, such as program title, program rating, and a short description. If the user wants to watch more information about the program, the user can position the highlight area 66 on the appropriate program list. Once the high-brightness area 6 6 is used to locate a particular program list, the user can choose to watch additional information about the program by pressing the "Information" button on the remote control 40. If the "Information" button on the remote control 40 is pressed, a program information screen will be displayed, such as the program information screen 70 shown in Fig. 7 for the user. Program information screen 7 0 displays additional information about the program selected in program box 50 丨 for the user ° For example, if the user selects the program side of FIG. 4

Page 16 416237 丨 Fifth, the invention description (12) |! Data item "SEINFELD" (57) in the grid 50, the program information screen 70 will reflect the selection and display more about this program as shown in Figure 7 Information. Program information screen 7 0 usually contains the program title (eg '| "SEINFELD"), the show time of this show (eg, "0:30"), and a short description of this ii show (eg, " J e rry decides to. .. "), program category j! or genre description (for example, "comedy"), rating rating (for example, 'television or program rating (for example, coaching, restricted, NC-1, 7, T V-Y, etc.), and alternative play times and channels (for example, this program is also played on ...) 15 The information contained in the program box 50 of Fig. 5 and the program information screen of Fig. 7! Act 70 will usually contain all the information the user wants. However, if the user wants to see more detailed information about the selected program, use the highlight area that can move the picture: 7 2 38 to the "more information" option 2 3 9, which guides this section to show more information, for example, in the form of detailed information screen 9 0 in Figure 8. The detailed information screen 9 0 allows users to watch this selected program more! Detailed information. Details The info screen 90 may contain updates for the selected program Detailed explanation; (for example, in the episode π) and user-selectable options, which the user can choose to obtain further information about the selected program. A typical user including i in the detailed information screen 90 may Selecting options may include viewing; options to see biographies, options that require video and audio clips, options to watch trivial items, options to launch the embedded web browser, and options to watch specific Internet addresses! Etc. Others The data can be displayed automatically without the need to use it | when the user actually enters it, the details screen 90. The details screen 90 can also contain different ads, such as ads 1 2 0. Options are also available

Page 17 416237 丨 Fifth, the description of the invention (13) | Appears on the detailed information screen 90 or other appropriate places in the program guide, and allows users to call applications or application extensions (except I Outside of the aforementioned web browsing applications). This application or application extension can also automatically call I when the user enters the location. : The information of this program guide can be stored locally and thus can be retrieved immediately, or stored remotely and available on demand. Illustrative details of a system based on user television equipment including an on-box box suitable for implementing the on-demand data supplementary features of the present invention are shown in FIG. 6. I The user television device 80 of FIG. 6 includes an on-board box 81, a television monitor 75, and a remote control 97. Figure 6 also shows the remote memory 78 and the television distribution facility 16. ! Video of the TV program and related listings are received from the TV distribution facility 16 on the input / output line 8 2 I. The input / output line 8 2 can also be used to receive other forms of information for the program guide. If desired, some materials: can be connected to one input line (for example, a cable from the head of a wired system), while other materials can be connected to another input line (for example, a telephone line connected to the Internet) ) To receive. Any suitable combination of this connection also

J 1 can be used to receive information and (when appropriate) send supplementary information from users; For example, a user request for supplementary information can be sent to the remote memory 7 8 through the input / output line 8 2, and the input / output line 8 2 can also be used.

I | to receive the requested supplementary information. This request can be, if necessary, sent to the remote memory 7 8 via other lines. The tuner / decoder of the box 8 1 on board; the encoder circuit 84 provides, for example, a demodulated video signal of a television channel,

Page 18 416237 i V. Description of the invention (14) | For the audience, it is adjusted to the control circuit 92 through the line 90. The control circuit 92 also receives data of other television programs (that is, programs not tuned by the user) (which generally includes text, graphics, and video) and data of this program guide, which are related to Features of non-TV program guides for TV distribution facilities 丨 6 (Figure 丨). Specific program guide data, such as the program list $ data ^ is stored in the local memory 88 by the control circuit 92 through the line 93. Other less frequently needed data and less urgent than locally stored data are stored in remote memory 78. The remote memory 78 may be any suitable memory device and may be located in, for example, a television distribution facility, a network node (for example, in a television distribution facility, a 16-servo system), or any other machine. The upper part of the upper case Η is in place. Data may be provided to the remote memory 7 from the main facility 2 or any suitable source. The data stored in local memory 88 is usually quickly needed by the program guide or the user. For example, the data stored in local memory 8 8 (which is usually random access memory) may include the title of the program, the rating of the program, the description of the program ’s performance, the time and channel of each show of the program, and other Related 'program categories. This information is usually displayed by the festival's display, such as the grid head 50 in Figure 4 or the print guide on the program information screen 70 in Figure 7. Locally stored information provides users with an immediate response because there is no associated delay in accessing the memory 88 with the instant guide. When the locally stored information is requested by the user, the & program guide guides € 9 2 and connects via line 9 3 * 丄 [, .. Receives information from local memory 88. This program means that the control circuit 92 displays information on the monitor 75 via the line 94. Information stored in remote memory 78 is usually a more detailed supplement

Page 19 4-6237 V. Description of Invention ¢ 15). Such supplementary information may be, for example, information related to a user having tuned to a highlight program list or program. This information, although available on-demand, is not transmitted to the onboard box 81 until it is apparent that the user wants it or will soon. Supplementary information initially stored in remote memory 7 8 may include, for example, detailed descriptions, biographies, video and audio clips, dot matrix graphics, advertisements, trivial matters, World Wide Web addresses, real-time information (Such as sports scores, weather information, stock prices, news, etc.), interactive applications (such as games, home shopping, finance, web browsing, etc.), and application extensions (that is, some applications It extends the functionality of applications that were already loaded). Supplementary information on the program may be displayed using a program guide display screen, such as the detailed information screen 90 of FIG. 8. When requesting supplementary information or when it is expected that the user will request the supplementary information, Section @guide sends a request for this information to the remote memory 7 8. The program guide then receives this information from the remote memory 78. The user request for supplementary information may be, for example, sent to the remote memory 78 via the input / output line 82, and the input / output line 82 may also be used to receive the requested supplementary information. This request can, if desired, be sent to the remote memory 78 via any other suitable line, such as a cable or telephone line. If the user does request this information (for example, the user has selected the "More Information" option 2 3 9 of the program information screen 70), the program guide will display this supplementary information on the monitor 75. If the user does not actually request this supplementary information, but expects that this supplementary information will be needed soon, the program guide can store the supplementary information in local memory 88. If the user does then ask, this show means

O: \ 58 \ 5S635.PTD Page 20 V. Description of the invention ¢ 16) Nan can display the supplementary information stored in the local memory 8 8 on the monitor | 75. Furthermore, this program guide can also automatically display supplementary information, although I have not been specifically requested by the user. This program guide can display this information immediately (for example, when the user enters the detailed information screen 90 of FIG. 8) or available once it is I. However, if the user does not make an exact request or no longer expects that this information will be needed soon, the information stored in the local memory 88 can be discarded or maintained until it is overwritten. When the user has browsed the program list, such as the program list in the program list box 50 of FIG. 4, this program guide monitors the user's browsing habits. The program listing guide 50 may request supplementary information as long as the user does, or as long as the user is expected to. For example, when the user browses through the program list box 50 of FIG. 4, the program guide can monitor the program in the program list box 50 to be displayed on the monitor 75. This' program guide can then retrieve supplemental information, which provides more detailed information about those programs from remote memory 78 and can store supplementary information about those programs in local memory 88. This | program guide therefore predicts that users will want to view this detailed information and, once | users do request it, try to minimize the delay in displaying this information. In addition, if the user tunes to a channel that plays a specific program or if the user uses j to retrieve locally stored information about a specific program, such as the information shown in Figure 7 | Program Information Screen 70, the program guide can speed up supplementary information. | Requirements. When the user browses the program information screen 70, the program guide also retrieves the supplementary information about the program and stores the supplementary information in the local memory 8 8. As a result, if the user decides to select

Page 21 416237 — ~ One ____________ ^ ^: --------, five 'invention description (17) _____ | machine "option 2 3 9 is related to the selected program displayed in _ 8 orders ,, I news faster display (that is, 'less replenished by the user's supplementary resources | And, the user browses the program information in Figure 7 to start the show 70 or actually adjust it! The less time the program channel is set, the The user will experience more delays from presenting detailed information about special programs for power and enemies, because the program guide will take less time to retrieve the information at the system 78. This program guide displays supplementary information when it is acquired , Do not need users to confirm

I: The detailed information screen 90 of FIG. 8 contains the user-selectable items I λ · 々, the noon item 'relevant. 8; that is, optional options for the purpose of supplementary information. For example, —optional ^ i can include the Internet address of the World Wide Web, such as the option% 1 (^ item i of Figure 8) If the user chooses option 07 of Figure 8, the user may see Figure 9 Connect i, the display of screen 140. Link screen 140 may include the option to provide a link to the user's program | metapage (145), and have the opportunity to search other related i pages (147), or have the opportunity to enter a new Search (144) or specific | Information Network address (148). Link screen 14〇 can also provide information related to! &Quot; " Announcement (149), related to this program or other programs on this channel. ^ The non-supplementary data contains an interactive application or application extension. Access to the application features of the application can be added as an option to the information screen, such as the separate option U1 & 113 of the screen 90 or (where appropriate) ） 应 __ 枉 ^ Expansion can be started automatically by the program guide. For example, as shown in Figure 8 | The information screen 90 may include user-selectable video / audio clip selections; if the user selects an option 108, the user can Watch this selection News clips. However, if this App Extensions

Page 22 416237 I. Description of the invention (18) | Automatically activated by the program guide, the user can, as shown in the example I shown in Figure 11, once the user sees the emergence of the information screen 90, watch this video clip | EDIT. This application can be launched (and overlaid) on any of the info screens or other [appropriate program guide display screens] in the program guide or on a separate display I screen.

I Applications (and extensions) can, for example, be related to a selected program list or the current program tuned to by the user, and can 'for example' include continuous display of shopping, finance, competition, voting, games, supplementary information (Such as sports scores or stock intelligence) and more. If the supplementary information displayed contains real-time information, the newsletter can be added to any information screen or program guide, other appropriate program guide display screens, or it can be overlaid on the video by the program guide on a continuous basis. ! If the user selects a list of sports events from the program list box 50 in Figure 4, and wants to view detailed information about this sports event program, the user can see the detailed information screen display, such as Figure 12 details! Detailed information screen 1 70. Detail screen 9 0 similar to Figure 8, detail

Screen 170 contains user-selectable options, and users can choose to watch additional supplementary information about this selected program. The detailed information screen 1 70 can also include real-time data options, such as sports score options 丨 74. If the user selects the exercise score option 174, the user may see the option screen i of FIG. 13 displayed on the screen 1 8 0. The option screen 1 8 0 allows the user to choose the information to watch i I form. The option screen 180 also allows the user to specify how and where this information is displayed. For example, if the user selects the option glory 丨 8 0 option | 1 8 1, the sports score information can be overwritten on a continuous basis by the program guide

Page 23 416237 ------------------------- '~~' 'V. Description of the invention (19) Above the program video, as shown in Figure 1 Shown in 4. The option screen 180 also allows the user to add real-time information to any information screen or other appropriate display screen in the program guide. Figure 10 shows a flowchart of the illustrative steps involved in using the system of Figure 1. At step 150 * the data used in the program guide is provided to remote memory and local memory = remote memory can be used. The remote memory of the edge 6 of the memory 7 8 may be located on the television distribution facility 16 in FIG. 1, a network node in a servo area of the television distribution facility 16, or some Other suitable locations on the user television device 2 2 that are remote to the user television device 22 but accessible by the program guide on the user television device 2 2. The local memory can be the local memory of the local memory 88 of FIG. 6, or other appropriate memory included in the user's television device 22 or its near end. The data provided to the local memory can be provided in place. The local memory of a user's television device 22 in a wide geographic area (eg, this country). The data in step 150 can be provided to the local memory by any suitable technique. For example, information such as television program listing information (which a user may want to access immediately) can be transmitted to multiple television distributions in parallel (continuously or periodically) via a communication path such as communication path 18 in FIG. 1 Facilities 丨 6. | Each TV distribution facility 16 can distribute this information to the user's television equipment 22, which is combined with the television distribution facility I 1 6 on the communication path 20, and the program refers to 1 South. In each part of the consumer television equipment 22, this program guide can store data in the local memory I combined with the consumer television equipment 22 of the part. Data can also be provided from the main facility 12 to the remote memory at step 1 50

P. 24 416237 Five 'invention description (20) body. For example, the detailed program says that ^ σ ^ π has been filmed to store 枓 source 14 in. Such a detailed instant description can simultaneously provide ^^ 〇〇- 客 吁, ν, L, 十 押 k to the TV distribution facilities 16 This breeding material, for example, provides program list data to be stored in local memory to TV distribution facilities 丨 6 (that is, this detail is provided in the poor source stream of the Siam Temple in the provision of program titles, ratings, channels, etc. ^ ^ 1 Q ^ Shi 16). This detailed program description can be on the TV distribution facility or for the sake of this, two points, and ^ μ + t servo. The network node on the backend 5 domain in the memory. The actual material to be stored in Youshen Wencheng Tsai ’s private memory 3 can be provided to this remote memory poor by using different data paths = 得: 、 share ”grid: weather information, news information, etc. = 4 = Provided by or from multiple sources (directly or through main & 12 or other facilities or separate from television distribution facilities) 6 sigh? Clipping and audio editing materials can be studio or broadcast ; 'Provided: depending on Yuan Duan memory. Data related to advertisements can be provided by advertisements such as, common memory b. Information related to applications or application expansions' are provided by the application in question or by special facilities for expansion The data that can be borrowed from the game application can be provided by the game application, including the relevant remote memory. The data related to the home shopping application can be provided to the remote service by the service provider. The information related to the gambling style can be provided by the financial service provider to the remote process. The example is only illustrative. Supplementary times to be stored in remote memory :: Use any suitable The technology is provided to the remote memory. The material can be operated in step 15 2 'This program guide is operated by the user. Here is the jfc: The South site uses the locally stored data to complete different program instructions. 1 force. Example

Page 25

416237 i V. Description of the invention (21) For example, if the program title is stored locally, ‘this program guide may display the program guide screen on the messenger television device 22, and its target problem. Because the information is available locally, there are no delays associated with using the information. As indicated by line 1 5 4 This program refers to r; supplementary data stored in remote memory when requested by the user; additional information in remote memory or selected by the user

I 丨 call a program guide to access an application or application j: program guide features. As indicated by line 156, this program guide is also supplementary information, when the program guide anticipates that users will need this resource: for example, to implement the user to watch the program currently tuned to by the user or mentioned in the item list. Program ’s expected additional information). < | On, this program guide retrieves the supplementary stored in remote memory! The program guide can use this retrieved supplement immediately or later when needed I This program guide can store this retrieved supplementary information locally Remember

I: so that it can be easily obtained when the program guide needs this information. I The foregoing is only a description of the principles of the present invention and a person skilled in the art can make the same modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The display is different. If you include this section, you can display this 5 to retrieve this storage, an option, or extended "to retrieve the material (for example, in a specific section, step 1 5 8 data. This is sufficient information. In memory, you can make no

Page 26

Claims (1)

416237_ 6. Scope of patent application 丨 1, an interactive TV program guide system, in which an interactive TV program is implemented on a user's TV device of a plurality of users1, which includes:! Local memory configured to store program guide data for use by this interactive TV program guide; and | remote memory located at the remote end of the user's television device configured to store supplementary data for use by the interactive TV program guide When the user needs to access 1 I, when the user accesses the supplementary data in the remote memory, at least some of the supplementary data are still stored in the remote memory and not transferred to the local memory. i 2. The interactive television program guide system according to item 1 of the patent application scope, further comprising a television distribution facility configured to distribute television programs to the user's television equipment of a plurality of users, wherein the remote memory system is located here TV 1 in the distribution facility. 3. The interactive television program guide system according to item 1 of the patent application scope, further comprising: a television distribution facility configured to distribute television programs to a user's television equipment of a plurality of users, wherein the remote memory system is located here TV distribution! Facility; and a main facility, which is configured to provide supplementary data to remote memory and j is configured to provide program guide data to the television distribution facility for redistribution to local j memory = '4. The interactive television program guide system under the scope of patent application No. 1 in which the program guide data includes a TV program list and the supplementary information includes a detailed program description of at least some TV program lists. The system also includes a Page 27 416237 I Sixth, the scope of patent application I I TV distribution facilities, and remote memory is located in it. I! 5. If the interactive TV program guide system of item 1 of the patent application scope, the program guide data stored in the local memory can be stored in the interactive TV program guide faster than the supplementary data stored in the remote memory. take. 6. If the interactive television program guide system of item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the program guide information includes a list of TV programs, and the supplementary information includes a detailed program description of at least some TV program lists, the system also includes a television distribution facility , And the remote memory is located in it, and the TV program list can be accessed by the interactive TV program guide faster than the detailed program description. 7. If the interactive television program guide system of item 1 of the patent application, in which the user takes action with the interactive television program guide, it indicates a potential imminent need for a specific part of the supplementary information; and The action automatically provides a specific portion of supplementary information to the interactive TV show guide before an impending demand. 8. If the interactive television program guide system of item 1 of the patent application is applied, the user takes an action with the interactive television program guide, which indicates a potential upcoming demand for a specific part of the supplementary information; and the system is configured according to the user's The action automatically provides a specific portion of the supplementary information to the interactive television program guide before an impending demand, wherein the user's action includes viewing a specific program list. 9. If the interactive television program guide system of item 1 of the patent application scope, where 丨 the user takes action on the user's television equipment, it indicates that the supplementary information Page 28 416837 丨 VI. Potential upcoming demand for specific part of patent application scope I; and! | This system is configured to automatically provide specific part of supplementary information to interaction based on user actions before the upcoming demand TV show guide. 1 〇. If the interactive television program guide system of item 1 of the patent application scope, which: In: The user takes action on the user's television equipment, which indicates a potential upcoming demand for a specific part of the supplementary information; and this system It is configured based on the user's actions before an impending demand; automatically provides certain parts of supplementary information to the interactive TV program guide, where the user's actions include tuning to a specific TV program. Π. If the interactive television program guide system of item 1 of the patent application scope, the supplementary information includes an application program or application program extension. j! 12. If the interactive television program guide system of item 11 of the patent application scope, I _ application or application extension is a user-selectable option. 1 3. If the interactive television program guide system of item 11 in the scope of patent application, the application program or application extension is automatically activated by this program guide. i 14, If the interactive television program guide system of item 1 of the patent application scope, the supplementary information includes real-time information. I I 15. If the interactive television program guide system of item 14 of the scope of patent application, the instant poor information is covered by the Langmu guide on the television program on a continuous basis. I 1 6. If the interactive television program guide system of item 1 of the patent application scope, which Page 29 416237 i Six. The supplementary information in the scope of patent application includes the Internet address. _; 17. If the interactive TV program guide system of item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the supplementary information includes the Internet address and the interactive TV program guide 丨 displays an information screen, the Internet address is regarded as a Links are included 3 1 8. If the interactive television program guide system of item 1 of the scope of patent application, the supplementary information in! Contains real-time data and this interactive television program guide is displayed | I an information screen, and the real-time data is displayed on among them. 19. If the interactive television program guide system of the first scope of the patent application, its supplementary information will be automatically displayed by this program guide as soon as it is available. 20. The interactive television program guide system of item 1 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information includes a biography. 1 2 1. If the patent application scope is 1 item of interactive TV program guide system, the supplementary materials in it include video clips. 22. If the interactive television program guide system of item 1 of the patent application scope, the supplementary materials in | include audio clips. I 丨 23. If the interactive television festival g guide system of item 1 of the scope of patent application, the supplementary information in: includes dot matrix graphics. 2 4. If the interactive television program guide system of item 1 of the patent application scope, the supplementary information contains the information of Jingrui. I 2 5. If the interactive television program guide system of item 1 of the patent application scope, the supplementary information in | includes advertisements. 2 6. — A method for using an interactive television program guide system, in which an interactive television program guide is implemented on a user's television equipment of a plurality of users Page 30 416237L · ——-------------— VI. Patent Application Fan Yuan Shi 'This user's TV device contains programs configured to be stored for use by the Interactive TV Program Guide. Memory, and the system has remote memory at the far end of this local memory, the remote memory is configured to store supplementary data for interactive TV program guide access, the method includes: using this interactive TV The program guide accesses the program guide data stored in the local memory, and the interactive television program guide accesses the supplementary data stored in the remote memory according to the user's needs, and the supplementary data stored in the remote memory When the data is accessed, at least some supplementary data is still stored in the remote memory without being transferred to the local memory. 2 7. The method according to item 26 of the patent application 'where the interactive TV program guide system contains A television distribution facility 'This method further includes: using this television distribution facility to distribute television programs to user television equipment of a plurality of users, wherein the remote memory system is located at Television distribution facility. 2 8. The method according to item 26 of the patent application scope, further comprising: using the television distribution facility to distribute television programs to a user television device of a plurality of users, wherein the remote memory system is located in the television distribution facility ; And use the main facility to provide this supplementary information to remote memory and the program guide information to a television distribution facility for redistribution to local memory. 29. The method according to item 26 of the patent application, wherein the program guide data includes a TV program list and the supplementary data includes a detailed program description of at least some TV program lists. O: \ 58 \ 5S635.PTD 416237 VI. Patent application scope 3 〇 The method of patent application scope item No. 26, in which the program guide data stored in the local memory can be supplemented by supplementary data stored in the remote memory Data is accessed faster with the interactive TV show guide. 3 1. The method according to item 26 of the patent application, wherein the program guide data includes a TV program list and the supplementary information includes at least some TV program lists with detailed program descriptions, and this method further includes: faster than detailed program descriptions To access the TV show list with the interactive TV show guide. 3 2. The method according to item 26 of the patent application, in which the user takes an action with an interactive television program guide, which indicates a potential impending demand for a specific part of the supplementary information. This method also includes: Automatically provide specific portions of supplementary information to the interactive television program guide based on user actions before an impending demand. 3 3. The method of claim 26 in which the user takes an action with an interactive television program guide, which indicates a potential impending need for a particular part of the supplementary material. This method also includes: configuring the system to be based on The user's actions automatically provide specific portions of supplementary data to the interactive television program guide before the upcoming demand, where the user's actions include watching a specific program list. 34. If the method of applying for item 26 of the patent scope, wherein the user takes action with the user's television equipment, which indicates a potential impending demand for a specific part of the supplementary information, this method further includes: configuring the system to be Automatically provide specific portions of supplementary information to the interactive television program guide based on user actions before an impending demand. O: \ 58V5S635.PTD Page 32, 416237 丨 VI. Application for patent coverage 1 '35. If the method of applying for the scope of patent No. 26, the applicant user takes action by using the TV equipment, which means that the supplementary information is specific Some of the potential upcoming requirements, this method also includes:! The system is configured to automatically provide specific portions of supplementary information to the interactive TV program guide based on user actions before the upcoming requirements! The action includes tuning to a specific TV program. 3 6. The method according to item 26 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information includes an application and application extension. I 37. The method according to item 3.36 of the patent application scope, wherein the application or application is expanded into a user-selectable option. I 38. The method of claim 36, wherein the application or application extension is automatically started by the program guide. 9. The method according to item 26 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information includes real-time information. 40. The method according to item 39 of the scope of patent application, wherein the real-time information is covered by a program guide on a television program on a continuous basis. 4 1. The method according to item 26 of the patent application scope, wherein the supplementary information package i i contains an Internet address. I 42. The method according to item 26 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information includes an Internet address and the interactive television program guide displays an information screen I, where the Internet address is used as a link Included. I 43. The method according to item 26 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information includes | real-time data and wherein the interactive television program guide displays an information screen 1 and the | current data is displayed therein. Page 33 416237 VI. Application for Patent Scope 4 4. The method for applying for the scope of patent application No. 26, where this supplementary information is automatically displayed by this program guide as soon as it is available 3 45. For the method for applying scope of patent No. 26 , Which supplementary information contains a biography. 4 6. The method according to item 26 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information includes video clips. 4 7. The method of claim 26, wherein the supplementary information includes audio clips. 4 8. The method according to item 26 of the patent application scope, wherein the supplementary information includes a matrix of I points. 4 9. The method according to item 26 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information contains trivial information. 50. The method according to item 26 of the patent application scope, wherein the supplementary information includes advertising. 5 1. An interactive TV program guide system, in which the interactive TV programs are implemented on the user's TV equipment of a plurality of users, which includes:! The local memory on each user's user's TV equipment , Which is configured to store data for the interactive TV program guide; and! The remote memory system located at the remote end of the user's TV device is configured to store supplementary data for the II Interactive TV Program Guide to access, where the user can use This means that the TV equipment takes action to indicate the potential imminent demand for specific parts of the supplementary information! The system will automatically provide specific parts of the supplementary information according to the user's actions before the impending demand | demand. 52. If the interactive television program guide system of item 51 of the patent application scope, Page 34 416237 i Six 'patent application scope! It also includes a TV distribution facility that is configured to deliver TV programs to multiple users' user TV equipment, of which the remote memory system is located in this I TV distribution In the facility. [53. The interactive television program guide system according to item 51 of the patent application scope, which includes: | a television distribution facility configured to distribute television programs to a plurality of users ’user television equipment, wherein the remote memory is located at This television distribution facility !; and j is configured to provide supplementary data to the main facility 1 of the remote memory and is configured to provide program guide information to the television distribution facility for redistribution to local memory. 54. If the interactive television program guide system of item 51 in the scope of patent application, where the program guide data includes a TV program list and it makes this supplementary information include a detailed section description of at least some TV program lists, the system also Includes TV distribution facility with remote memory in it. 5 5. If the interactive television program guide system of item 51 of the scope of patent application, the program guide data stored in the local memory can be faster than the supplementary data stored in the remote memory. Guide access. I! 5 6. If the interactive television program guide system of item 51 of the scope of patent application, where the program guide data contains a list of TV programs and the supplementary information contains • at least some TV program list's detailed program description 'This system also contains The TV distribution facility in which far-end memory is located, in which the TV program list can be accessed faster with an interactive TV program guide than a detailed program description. 5 7. If the interactive television program guide system of item 51 of the patent application scope, Page 35 416237 VI. Scope of Patent Application Where = The user takes action with the interactive TV program guide, which indicates a potential impending need for a specific part of the supplementary information; and the system is configured based on the user's interactive TV program guide The action automatically provides a specific portion of supplementary information to the interactive TV show guide before an impending demand. 5 8. If the interactive television program guide system of item 51 of the scope of patent application, wherein the user takes an action with the interactive television program guide, it indicates a potential upcoming demand for a specific part of the supplementary information; and the system is configured according to The actions performed by the user's interactive TV program guide automatically provide a specific portion of supplementary data to the interactive TV program guide before an impending demand. The actions performed by the user with the interactive TV program guide include watching a specific program list. 5 9. The interactive television program guide system according to item 51 of the scope of patent application, wherein the user's action includes tuning to a specific television program. 60. The interactive television program guide system according to item 51 of the patent application scope, wherein the supplementary information includes an application or application extension. 6 1. The interactive television program guide system according to item 60 of the patent application, wherein the application program or application program is expanded to a user-selectable option. 6 2. The interactive television program guide system according to item 60 of the patent application, wherein the application program and application program expansion are automatically activated by the program guide. 6 3. If the interactive television program guide system of item 51 in the scope of patent application, the supplementary information contains real-time information. Page 36 416237 VI. Scope of Patent Application 6 4. For the interactive television program guide system with the scope of patent application No. 63, the real-time information is covered by the program guide on TV program I on a continuous basis. 6 5. If the interactive television program guide system of item 51 in the scope of patent application, the supplementary information includes the Internet address. I 66. The interactive television program guide system according to item 51 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information includes an Internet address and the interactive television program guide displays an information screen, where the Internet address is included as a link Included. 6 7. If the interactive TV program guide system of item 51 of the scope of patent application, the supplementary data includes real-time data and the interactive TV program guide displays an information screen, and the real-time data is displayed therein. 6 8. If the interactive television program guide system of item 51 of the scope of patent application, the supplementary information is required by the user to make an action with the interactive television program guide based on the interactive television program guide. 6 9. The interactive television program guide system according to item 51 of the scope of patent application, where supplementary information is automatically displayed by this program guide as soon as it is available. 70. The interactive television program guide system 1 according to item 51 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information includes a biography. 7 1. The interactive television program guide system according to item 51 of the scope of patent application, wherein the supplementary materials include video clips. i! 72. The interactive television program guide system according to item 51 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information includes audio clips. 7 3. If the interactive television program guide system of item 51 of the scope of patent application, 416237 i 6. The scope of patent application; the supplementary information includes dot matrix graphics. 74. If the interactive television program guide system of item 51 of the patent application scope, I supplementary information contains trivial information. 75. If the interactive television program guide system of the 51st scope of the patent application, the supplementary information includes advertisements; 76. — A method of using the interactive television program guide system, in which the interactive | TV program guide is in a plurality of users It is implemented on the TV of the weekly TV device. This user TV device includes a local memory configured for the interactive TV program guide to store the program guide data, and this system has remote memory at the remote location of the local memory I. The remote memory is configured to store i supplemental data for interactive TV program guide access, which includes: accessing the program guide data stored in local memory using the interactive TV program guide; and I using interactive TV programs Guide to access supplementary data stored in remote memory, where when a user takes action with a user's television device to indicate a potential impending demand for a particular part of the supplemental data, the system Certain parts of supplementary information are provided automatically before an impending demand. 77. The method according to the scope of patent application 76, wherein the interactive television program guide system includes a television distribution facility, and the method further includes: using the television distribution facility to distribute the television program to a messenger television device of a plurality of users, The remote memory is located in this TV distribution facility. I 78. The method of claim 76, further comprising: using a television distribution facility to distribute television programs to a plurality of users. Page 38 416237 丨 VI. Patent Application Range 丨 User TV equipment, where remote memory is located in this TV distribution facility; ii and 丨 ϊ 丨 use main facilities to provide supplementary data to remote memory and programs Guide; * ί Information is to TV distribution facilities for redistribution to local memory. i s | 79. The method of claim 76, wherein the program guide information package contains a TV program list and the supplementary information contains at least some TV program lists. Detailed program descriptions of the table. 80. The method according to the scope of patent application No. 76, wherein the program guide data stored in the local memory can be accessed faster than the supplementary data stored in the remote memory. s I 81. The method of applying scope 76 of the patent application, wherein the program guide information package | includes a TV program list and the supplementary information includes a detailed program description of at least some TV program lists, this method further includes: a TV program list than a detailed program Data can be accessed faster with the interactive TV show guide. 8 2. If the method of applying for patent scope No. 76, in which the user takes action with the interactive video guide, which indicates a potential impending demand for a specific part of the supplementary information, this method also includes: configuring the system to Actions based on the user's interactive TV program guide automatically provide specific portions of supplementary data to the interactive TV program guide before an impending demand. I 83. As the method of applying for patent scope No. 76, configure the system to perform actions based on the user's interactive TV program guide before the upcoming demand | Automatically provide specific portions of supplementary material to Interactive TV Show guide, which Page 39 416237 VI. Scope of Patent Application The user's action on interactive TV programs includes watching a specific program list. 84. The method of claim 76, wherein the user's actions include tuning to a particular television program. 8 5. The method according to claim 7 of claim 6, wherein the supplementary information includes an application or application extension. 8 6. The method of claim 8 in claim 5, wherein the application or application is expanded to a user-selectable option. 8 7. The method according to claim 8 in claim 5, wherein the application program or application program extension is automatically started by the program guide. 8 8. The method of applying scope 76 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information includes instant information. 89. The method according to patent application No. 88, wherein the real-time information is covered by the program guide on the TV program on a continuous basis. 90. The method of claim 76, wherein the supplementary information includes an Internet address. 9 1. The method according to claim 7 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information includes an Internet address and the interactive television program guide displays an information screen, and this Internet address is included as a link. 9 2. The method according to the scope of patent application 76, wherein the supplementary information includes an instant data and the interactive TV program guide displays an information screen, and this real-time information is displayed therein. Method, in which supplementary information is produced by the interactive television program guide by the user according to the needs P.40 416237 VI. Scope of Patent Application I Request for action. 9 4. The method according to patent application range 76, wherein the supplementary information is automatically displayed by this program guide as soon as it is available. 9 5. The method of applying scope 76 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information includes information. 9 6. The method of claim 76, wherein the supplementary material includes a video clip. 9 7. The method as claimed in claim 76, wherein the supplementary material includes audio clips. ί 9 8. The method according to claim 7 of the patent application range, wherein the supplementary material includes a dot matrix and a figure. 9 9. The method of applying scope 76 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information contains trivial information. 1 0 0. The method of applying scope 76 of the patent application, wherein the supplementary information includes advertisements. Page 41